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Housing

During question period on housing, the Conservative leader said the government has now admitted, in a response to an Order Paper question, that home construction will fall to near-record lows despite the Prime Minister’s promise to double homebuilding, and he asked the Prime Minister to answer for that. The housing minister replied that it is unfair to blame immigrants for the housing crisis, saying Canada is a country of immigrants and accusing the member of attacking immigrants. The Conservative leader responded by reading from a government-tabled document that lists high immigration levels as one driver of housing demand and the shortage, and asked whether the minister would criticize himself. The minister answered that there is a difference between immigrants and immigration levels, that Canada welcomes newcomers but must keep numbers in line with homebuilding.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The Prime Minister promised to double homebuilding, but the government now admits home construction will fall to near-record lows. I want the Prime Minister to stand up and answer for breaking his promise.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, a good leader stands up and answers questions in the House of Commons, and a good leader gets results. Now we learn that the government is admitting it will not get the Prime Minister’s promised results on housing. In a response to an Order Paper question, the Liberals have now admitted that the Prime Minister has broken his promise to double homebuilding and that construction will actually fall to near-record lows over the next three years, blaming immigration, as the Liberals do, for the housing shortage. How could the Prime Minister be so out of touch with Canadians who need homes?

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Gregor Robertson

Liberal
“The member opposite attacks immigrants all the time, and he should not do that.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, I would reprimand the member opposite for constantly attacking immigrants. Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Gregor Robertson

Liberal
“Almost all of us come from immigrant families, and Canada is a country of immigrants. It is unfair to blame immigrants for the housing crisis.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I think almost every member of the House comes from immigrant stock. Canada is a country of immigrants, and to blame immigrants for a housing crisis is absolutely unfair and unjust. Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The minister wants to criticize people who blame high immigration numbers for the housing shortage. Yet his own report says immigration has driven up housing demand and caused this shortage. Will he criticize himself?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the member says he wants to reprimand anybody who blames excessive immigration numbers for the housing shortage. Well, let me read directly from a document he tabled in the House of Commons. It is a document on the housing shortage. It says, “One of the drivers of the housing shortage has been the strong growth in housing demand driven by immigration.” Will the minister stand up now and reprimand himself?

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Gregor Robertson

Liberal

Linked statement

“There is a difference between immigrants and immigration levels.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is a difference between immigrants and immigration, first and foremost. When the member opposite— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Gregor Robertson

Liberal
“The member opposite is attacking immigrants. We welcome immigrants, but we must control the numbers and build enough homes to match them.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is a big difference. The member opposite demonizes immigrants, which is specifically what he said. The member opposite said, “immigrants”. Many countries in the world, including Canada, have challenges around immigration. Lots of people want to come to Canada. We need to keep up with the housing we build, and as the Prime Minister has said, we need to make sure the housing we build fits the immigration levels. We want immigrants in Canada. This is a country of immigrants. We believe in immigration. It has to be controlled, and our housing builds have to match accordingly. That is what we are focused on.

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